[Web4lib] RE: Failed or transitory technologies,
with an emphasis on libraries
Gilman, Mark
mark.gilman at dallaslibrary.org
Sun Dec 16 18:03:55 EST 2007
By "the purchase of Wikipedia" I mean the hold it has on people's
attention, not that someone purchased it. Sorry for the ambiguity.
-----Original Message-----
From: Gilman, Mark
Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2007 5:03 PM
To: 'web4lib at webjunction.org'
Subject: Failed or transitory technologies, with an emphasis on
libraries
It could happen that Wikipedia proves transitory, sooner than we think,
if Google's just-announced "Knol" project catches fire.
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/encouraging-people-to-contribute.
html
I realize that the purchase of Wikipedia is huge, but the Google
screenshots (all that's available at this writing, so far as I know)
show a high level of graphical polish and decent architecture.
Regards,
Mark Gilman
Municipal Reference Librarian
Dallas Public Library
1515 Young St., 6th floor.
Dallas, TX 75201
214-670-1482
http://dallaslibrary.org
----------------
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:02:31 -0700
From: Dan Lester <dan at riverofdata.com>
Subject: [Web4lib] Failed or transitory technologies, with an emphasis
on libraries
To: web4lib at webjunction.org, libnet at marmot.org,
libref-l at listserv.kent.edu
Cc: "WORDS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU" <WORDS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Message-ID: <446880758.20071214120231 at riverofdata.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Hello web4lib friends,
I'm working on a presentation tentatively called something like "history
of library technology with an emphasis on the last 40 years".
It will probably include Powerpoint, just to show illustrations of the
some of the items and not to give an interminable outline or list. :-)
I trust I'll come up with a better title, but hope you get the idea.
I'm looking for examples in three areas.
1 Failed technologies or products (lasted only a short time on the
market or in service)
2. Transitory technologies or products (lasted longer, but fairly
quickly superseded)
3. Lasting technologies or products
There isn't a clear distinction or boundary on any of the three, of
course, and we could argue where some of them go. The examples don't
have to be library related, as I'll also want some that put the library
ones in historical context as well. If you have references to great
illustrations of any of them, that would be great too.
Some examples might be:
Failed
Ultrafiche
Videodiscs
Quad stereo
Apple Lisa
Steam powered cars
MC/ST and MC/ST typewriters
Stand-alone word processors (Wang et al)
Transitory
Cassette tapes
Microprint/card (opaques)
8mm filmloop cartridges
Punched cards
Gopher
Fax machines
Gas lights
Apple ][ series
Non-graphic displays on monitors
Vacuum tubes in electronic devices
Electric typewriters
Lasting (at least so far)
Intergrated library systems
WWW
Ariel and similar document transmission
iPod
Librarians
Solid state devices
My goal isn't to start a debate on which things go in which category
(though wouldn't object to that, but is probably too off topic).
Please send me suggestions to my personal email, though I'll also try to
harvest those sent to the list.
Something to think about when things slacken a bit with finals,
holidays, and so forth. Any help appreciated.
thanks, and happy holidays of whatever type you celebrate
--
Best regards,
Dan mailto:dan at riverofdata.com
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